Telephone subset wiring-plan system



Sept. 8, 19573 w. G. sToREY TELEPHONE sUBsET WIRING-PLAN SYSTEM Filed Aug. 4, 1951 INVENTOR:

WILBUR G. STOREY BY @a/4,47

ATTORNEY N zoFEw Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE TELEPHONE SUBSET WIRING-PLAN SYSTEM Wilbur G. Storey, Chicago, Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company, a corporation of Delaware Application August 4, 1951, Serial No. 240,336

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a telephone subset wiring-plan system. Its principal object is to provide an improved and more efficient system of the type wherein each of one or more subscriber subset stations includes key apparatus for connecting the subset thereat to either a local or an exchange telephone line.

A further object of this invention is to provide a system of the foregoing character which will afford the essential features of private-branchexchange service to a small establi. ment.

A speciiic object is to provide a saticiactoiy and economical circuit arrangement using standard subset apparatus in combination with key switching, to provide both transfer and hold service, while insuring that the exchange telephone line will not be inadvertently left in hold condition indenitely.

It has been chosen to illustrate the invention as embodied in a subset wiring-plan system wherein an exchange telephone line serving two or more substations is paralleled a local line serving the same stations. Ringers may be permanently bridged across the exchange telephone line at each station, while the talking circuit is arranged to be switched from the exchange line to the local line by throwing a manual key to either of two oir-normal positions. With the key in normal position, the telephone subset at each station may be used on the exchange line Ef.

in the conventional manner. When the key is thrown to one ori-normal position, it merely transfers the talking apparatus to the local line, but when thrown to the other position, it effects the same transfer but in addition, places a hold bridge across the main exchange line.

A feature of the invention is that the local line and exchange line may be used simultaneously, either independently of each other, or in conjunction with one another.

Another `leature is that any station in the system. can originate, answer, hold, or transfer calls over the exchange line, as well as originate and answer calls over the local intercommunication line.

A still further feature is that as many subsets may be added. to the system as desired within the practical limits determined the delay in trani-c that be borne over the system.

A further feature is that the arrangement can be to work on dial se 1vice systems or on common battery manual systems.

StillV another feature is that the line holding facilities of the system are effective only so long the receiver' of one oi the subsets is removed,

thus eliminating the likelihood of calls being permanently held without intention.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description progresses.

Referring now to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration showing the physical. arrangement of component parts of the system embodying the present invention.

Fig, 2 shows circuit details of the arrangement of Fig. 1 embodying the principles of the present invention with one of the subset stations illustrated as representative of each station in the system.

The general physical arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, shows that the system includes as common apparatus a power supply unit Il) and a relay unit ll. which operate in conjunction with several telephone stations connected to the common apparatus by way of a cable I2 which carries the leads necessary to efr-ect the desired functions at each station of the system. Each station comprises a telephone subset I3, a three position key I4, and a junction box I5 wherein the station cable I6 joins the station equipment to cable I2.

The power supply unit l@ is of size and character designed to meet the power requirements ci the local line and supervisory signal devices of the system. It may be merely a battery supply unit, but where commercial power is readily available, such as 110 volt alternating current, it may be more desirable, from the standpoint of maintenance and cost, to utilize such power and to change itto current and voltage of value for which the systeml is adapted to operate. Thus,

in the usual installation, the power pack may merely comprise a form of rectier and associated lter network for converting 11o-volt alterhating current to direct current in the order ci l2 volts. if desired, however, the supervisory signal devices may be operated on alternating current by the addition of a transformer for changing the 110 volts to voltage values for which such devices are designed.

In the specic embodiment described herein, the power pack is supplied by commercial power, such as 110 volts AC. fed over a pair of power leads I'I. The output of the power pack is both alternating and direct current, each in the order of- 12 volts, supplied over leads ltd and i812, and leads I9 respectively.

The relay unit Il as shown in l includes the relays and bridging component associated therewith which operate in conjunction with the key at each station to provide the hold and signal features of the system. Included in the unit is a slow-release relay 3l which is connected in series with one side of the exchange line 3B which is introduced to the system through the unit. With the relay 3l thus connected, it operates whenever a closed loop is formed on the exchange line 3d, such as when a receiver is lifted at one of the stations while battery potential is applied at the exchange end of the line. Relay 3i, also included in unit Il, is a slowrelease relay which makes the system adaptable to dial service as well as common battery manual service systems. Relay 3l is made to be a slowrelease relay so that its operation will not be affected by dial pulses when the circuit is utilized on dial service systems. Such slow-release characteristic has no modifying affect on operation of the system on manual systems with which it may be related.

A make contact set 34 associated with relay 3l closes whenever a call is being made over the exchange line This operation extends the low voltage A. C. cupply lead Ilia by way of a lead ic to light a supervisory lamp at each station, as will be explained later.

A by-pass condenser 32 also in unit Il is connected across relay 3i to permit the passage of alternating ringing current when the stations are to be signaled in notification of incoming calls. As indicated above each station of the system may have a ringer permanently bridged across the exchange line so that upon receipt of an in coming call each station will receive an incoming signal, but if desired, it is apparent that onlyT one station may be provided with a ringer if other stations within the system are within hearing distance of the single ringer, or if an attendant is stationed at the one station to take all income ing calls.

The bridging component for the system may be a resistance 33 connected between the station side of the winding of relay 3i and the make contact set 22 of relay 2l. The value of resistance 33 is preferably of magnitude close to that of the talking circuit of a telephone set, since it is used to replace such a circuit whenever an incoming call is to be held on the exchange line, as will be explained.

Although Fig. 1 shows only three stations (namely stations i and 2 and L), there is nothing peculiar to the system which limits it to only three stations, nor is it necessary that the system include as many as three stations. As many stations may be included in the system as desired within the limits permitted by the traino that can be tolerated at each station with the addition of a l,

new station. With the addition of each new station, it is apparent that more traino will likely be borne by the exchange line, and thus, more possibility for delay in making and receiving calls will occur. But in contrast, with the addition of each new station, the intercommunication means becomes more valuable, both in facilitating the exchange of intelligence between stations, as well as in effecting greater eiiiciency in the use of the exchange line.

The subset i3 may be of the conventional type having a talking circuit dd, including a transmitter and receiver controlled by a hookswitch ii i, and a ringer i2 arranged for connection across the exchange line 3d in the usual manner with a condenser d3 in series therewith to prevent the direct current from by-passing the talking circuit 4b.

If desired, the subset I3 at each station may be adapted to directly incorporate a buzzer i6 for local line signalling, a push-button 44 to eiiect such local line signalling, and a busy lamp 45 t0 indicate when the exchange line 3E! is in use. These components may be made part of the subset, or they may instead be mounted separately and apart therefrom within a convenient locale of the subset where the signal devices can be readily used and observed. This signalling arrangement, however, is particularly adapted to convenient association with telephone systems which are already installed without the necessity for complicated subset changes to effect such association. 1n the drawing, however, all three components ifi, (i5, and fit, are shown embodied within the subset i3; the push-button s4, and the busy lamp being exposed, while the buzzer 4E is enclosed within the subset housing. While specific signal devices are herein described in association with the subset, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that they may be easily substituted by other devices which will effect the same functions without changing the nature of operation of the system. For example, the busy lamp d5 might readily be substituted by an electromagnetic signal means, while the buzzer t6 could be replaced by a chime without varying the manner of operation of the system.

Leads connected to the subset components are brought out of the subset housing by way of a cable iii which connects the parts to the three position key ifi through which connections are made by way of cable I6 to cable l2 within junction. box i5. Each key iii is the heart of the controls for its respective station in that the transier, hold, and intercommunication features are all dependent upon key positioning.

As indicated above, each key ifi has a mid-position and two side positions. Each side position has a set of contact blades actuable by a key lever independently of the other, while when the key lever is in mid-position, both sets of blades remain in normal position. Referring to Fig. 2, the right side of the key lli has two traveling blades 5l and Traveling blade El is associated with front and back Contact blades and 52 respectively, while traveling blade 5H is similary associated with front and back contact blades 53 and 55 respectively. When the key lever Ilia is thrown to actuate either set of contacts they are held in such actuated position until the key lever is thrown to another position.

The left side of key iiihas three traveling blades 62, t3, and Se, which are all actuated simultaneously when the key lever ma is thrown to the position corresponding to such blades.

Traveling blade 32 has an associated make contact blade @d and a break contact blade 5| arranged to constitute a make-before-break contact set. Similarly, traveling blade 53 has associated therewith, a make contact blade 55 and a break contact blade 64 also arranged to constitute a make-before-break contact set. Traveling blade 6B is associated with a make contact blade 68 and is arranged to be actuated simultaneously with traveling blade 63 by a non-conducting actuating member is which engages traveling blade 63 and is moved in conjunction therewith.

The talking circuit lid is connected by a pair of leads in cable i8 to the traveling blades 5| and 5d of the key in series with hookswitch fil. The manner in which the talking circuit 4D of the subset i3 is connected to the lines is dependent upon whether the left hand stack of contact blades is in normal or actuated position. In the normal position of traveling blades 5l and 54,

4"stackf of-..contact gblades, throughiitheibreak con- Ltacts'IiI and B4 Vofathev leftfhand stackfof Contact blades,=and by way ott-leads `.1.2 and T3.

When the key lever is thrown to actnatezxhe traveling 'blades 1 5 Aand .54,f-they.:arevdisengaged P-`fromfthe'backfcontactfvblades 52fand-3'53 frespec- 1..:

*tively-andengagethe front contactiblades. 5D-.and '155 respectively, thereby.adisconnectingzthe :talk- 'ing fcircu-itrom! the exchange. lline leads 3M. and '3Ilb-respectively,1and?:transferring1itE to'the local "line leads Hlaand: I 9b of cable. lI 2,'.byaway ;0f..leads v'wand 16.

l'From the foregoing, rit Ais apparent:that .when "the: :key-'lever Ma 'is' in mideposition, :zwhijchfisiits fnormal position, fthezta'lking vcircuitlMl is connnected across :the: exchange. line leads 30a 4and Y 30b. Whenever a'local conversation is `to be'connducted:between twofor more stations of the sysf temflthe key .leverf of each such conversing rstatoon Ais Athrow-:rito` theffpositionl whichwillvactuate --thelwtalking circuit is connected across thevflooal Elinefleads -I9a2and-I'9b. l'In suchposition the talking #circuiti :of each 'of-they associated sub- `-sets "fis f'scomplet'ely disconnected Sfrom -the eX- A:change line, therebyleaving fitfree to tbe used thy-:any other subset :of :the system, `independently :1r-of i local ilineoperation.

'lhefmakeebeforeebreak: contact-sets of the-key said in 4preventing.' thefloss df a call '-'wl'iichcis to .be lheld-onfthe@exchange :line-whilea station -keylis --being-transferred Ffrom normaliV -to'hol'd position. --Thefcontact sets Ido thisby connecting the 'ta-lkfing circuit lof -theirfrespectivelyassociated-subset across the localline yKia and-|1912 'before discon- "necting A"1t ifrom= the exchangefline thereby m'iniiirnizing the possibility of `vthe Aexchange line Mgoing dead f before *the bridging resistance 133 is 'connecte'd .across the=exchangef1linefbythe local line :relay 2.I. 'GOrreSpOndingly,supon Ytrans'ferof V"a :subset :from the local: line'l to they exchangeline,l

rtheeexchangelinefconnection isIrnade an instant A'before-the local line' isf disconnected, thus elimi- .fna'ting the possibilityfofa held callebeing iostl be- 'fore rem-oval ofthe'holding bridgeuponrmoveiment 'of 4the key from i hol'd lto lnormal positionf i VIn'many instancesan-exchange `line call willi-be 'receive'diat one station in the-systemfwhichfis'to #bei transferred :toaano'ther station within 'the sysitem. such instances the=exchange line can lbe :heldfwhile the answering .partymakes a call over the 1 local lineY to :notify the .desired party that ra .callmay be .picked `up .at his.station,zor.ia buzzer @signal-may be .usedto notifyhimiof such .a call. YWhen an` incoming call :is answered' :at ia station ,of the system, the answeringparty Will-:firstzsee -to 4it .that thefkey lever yLila is ,thrownto mid- .,position, .before answering 4the fcall. If ther party desired,.bythecalling party .is'at another station 'in the systern,.and it is .desired-tornotify him .directlyxover the local line, .theaansweringparty will throw the key-leverto position to actuate the left. hand stackof contact blades which will con- Anect the. subset .to thelocalv line and. bridge the exchange. line. During actuationf ofthefkeyi the AWhen -g ftravelingzblades 162,953, fand 166, first rmake :zeonvvtact=with their respective frontrcontactz-biadesi, S-:and 561. ,This Aplaces thetalking :.circuitl zacross'thelocalfline I.9a.=and I9b and-resultsiin energization .'of' the .local line relay `2 I l'and vconse- A:quentrclosure *.of. itswmake contact :12. for placing :.the'sbridging resistancefii inl series with thefron't contact blade 61 of the'travelingbladei. .Since `'atl-the same time the talking circuityisibeingfconnected. to theilocal line, ftheztraveling blade 66 is .fbeingmoved to close its front contacts?, a closed '.loop'awill .'be formed ion the exchange linesbyithe :bridging `resistancei'ilS Ywhen the Vlocal line lrelay 2| '.is fenergized. vAn .instant'following the icon- :nection of' the talking circuit to `the locallline, the talking circuit Ais disconnected from thee-exchange' line .at the.' bridge contacts J6 I andi Casisociated with ther` traveling. blades'f-EZ and 163` 1respectively. Thus, the talking circuit 40 :isfcon- `I-iectedfacross 'the :loca-i line yand .disconnected "fromithe exchange line which will be'held"by-the .bridging resistance 3:3as long .as the keylever :Ma :is'retained infposition tokeep the le'ftharid stack of contact blades-actuated. It willbe'note'd that the bridging resistance 33 is effective to 'maintain the exchange line relay'SI-operated to :hold the exchange line vby reason of the'resi'stance bridging the IineIleadSi'SGaand3G19 through the key blades'EG and' 6`.',\lead 'I-Land make contacts TZ'Zfat-apoint beyond the-relay 3i opposite tothat 'rat which `the exchange filine leads '3afan'd 30h are introduced into thefsystem.

At .al1 Atimes .when-'the exchange-line is being lheld, or is `in use,r.theV busy lamp-45 Vateach'station in the system will light up as notification that the line .is 'in' use. 'This isi-accomplished at each station by-connecting'the `busy lampacross `the lowevoltagezalternating current leads |81) and v|80 :through-:the make contacts `34 'of relay 3| which, 'fas 'pointed :out above, is energizedwatall ytimesrwhen.theaexchange line is in use. Such connectionzof thelamp 51155 is effected-by way of :leads 'Ilfand :T8 `which join the low-'voltage leads -I-b and' I8c, ytlfrelatter rof which is an extension of the low-voltage-lead 'I'Sa through themake conta cts 43.4.

It.,w.ill be noted with thisarrangement, :that the bridging. resistance-33 is .eiective lto hold the exchange linea-nd.toemaintainthe busy lamp A-45 nergized only solong. as the local line `lila .and `I9?) islin operation with thekey lever positioned `to actuate the left hand stack of .contact blades of keyv I4. When the local lineis hung up while "-theskey lisiin `such position, `the exchange `.line l'-cannotbe held, thus the vpossibility of the exchange line being permanently held without intention is negligible.

Regardlessoffwhetherftheflocal line is-in use G0..or1.not,itheringerifig at each station-is connected soathat fit-willv operate to notify theparties of the :systerni that `arr incoming call is to 'be' answered.

Suchconnection -iseffected 'by connecting the ringer an'dits-:series Vcondenser 133 across the eX- 'changeline by'way-of lea-ds'Z-and "F3 whichA join vthe exchange Vline Vleads :iemand 'Enh in the junc- 'tion box I5.

@Foi-"local line signalling, the buzzer 4S isconnectedin series with a .nush-,buttonfi' .while the series branch .itself .is 4connected across .fthe .'-lowvoltage.. alternating l.current leads IBa .and I'Bb by vleadsls and u'IS which also-join-.cable `I2 Within ...theconnection box :15. By,providing a -lead2I8d which .joins .all buzzers v.with-in the system zata v:point lbetween :their respective :push .buttons sand buzzer terminals, all buzzers 46 of the system are joined in multiple so that all will operate simultaneously upon closure of any one push button within the system. Code signals may be assigned to each station in the system so the buzzer system can be used to notify the party at the station that either an exchange line call is awaiting him or that a call over the intercommunication system is awaiting him. For example, a possible code signal for transferring exchange line calls from the' station answering an incoming call to the station desired may be one short buzz for the rst station in the system, two short buzzes for the second station, three short buzzes for the third station, etc. A party at any station receiving one of the above signals over his buzzer will thus recognize, rst, that an exchange line call is awaiting some party in the system and, secondly, which party is being called. The party at the desired station, before lifting the handpiece of his subset will then check to see that his key lever is in normal, or answer, position and then will answer, whereupon the party at the initial answering station may hang up.

Thus, the only operation necessary for a party to transfer a call by use of the buzzer is to code signal the desired station and remain on the line until the calling and called party are connected before replacing the receiver on the hookswitch f the telephone. The supervisory lamp 45 at each station will remain lighted until the exchange line call is completed and the called party restores his telephone handpiece to its hookswitch.

An intercommunication call may be signalled over the buzzer system by designating as a signal for such calls one long signal before designating by the short signal code which station is desired. Thus, any station receiving a signal preceded by one Vlong buzz will recognize that a local line call is being made and which station is being called. The party at the called station is thus notified that he must throw his key lever to local line position before answering the call.

Besides making it possible to transfer and hold exchange line calls, and to eiTect calls between station, the system may also be used for conference calls over the exchange line. rI'his may be done by providing a predetermined general call signal over the buzzer system which can be sent out by the party at any station, whereupon all parties may connect into the exchange line by answering with their respective keys in normal position.

I claim:

1. In combination, a first and a second common-battery telephone line, a station common to both lines and including a common-battery subscriber telephone set having a hookswitch for closing and opening the common-battery talking path therethrough, the station further including a switching key having a rst and a second position corresponding to said lines respectively, contact means in the key for connecting the telephone set to the line corresponding to either position in which the key is placed, a relay connected in circuit with the second line and operable thereover subject to the key being in second position and to the hookswitch being closed, the relay including contact means closed with the operation thereof, the key having other contact means closed dependent on the key being in second position, and a holding bridge for the first line including the said contact means of the relay in series with said other contact means of the key, the respective contact means in the key being so associated in operation that, when the key is being moved from first position to second position, the telephone set remains connected to the first line until the said other contact means of the key have been closed and the telephone set has been connected with the second line, whereby the relay is able to operate over the second line to close a holding bridge for the first line by the time the telephone set is disconnected therefrom.

2. In combination, a rst and a second common-battery telephone line, a station common to both lines and including a common-battery subscriber telephone set having a hookswitch for closing and opening the common-battery talking path therethrough, the station further including a switching key having a rst and a second position corresponding to said lines respectively, rst Contact `means in the key for connecting the telephone set to said rst line responsive to said key being in rst position and second contact means in the key for connecting the telephone set to said second line responsive to said key being in second position, said first and second contact means being so associated in operation that upon said key being changed to disconnect the telephone set from one line to connect it to the other the contact means corresponding to said other line is effective to connect said telephone set to such line before the set is disconnected from said one line, a relay connected in circuit with the second line and operable thereover subject to said second contact means connecting said telephone set to said second line and to the hookswitch being closed, the relay including contact means closed with the operation thereof, the key having other contact means closed dependent on the key being in second position, and a holding bridge for the first line including the said contact means of the relay in series with said other Contact means of the key.

3. In combination, a first and a second common-battery telephone line, a station common to both lines and including a common-battery subscriber telephone set having a hookswitch for closing and opening the common-battery talking path therethrough, the station further including switching key having a first position corresponding to the first line and having second and third position each corresponding to the second line, contact means in the key for connecting the telephone set to the line which corresponds to any said position in which the key is placed, a relay connected in circuit with the second line and operable thereover subject to the second line being bridged, the relay including contact means closed with the operation thereof, the key having other contact means closed dependent on the key being in second position, and a holding bridge for the rst line including the said contact means of the relay in series with the said other contact means of the key, whereby placing the key in second position directly bridges the second line and indirectly closes a holding bridge across the first line subject to the hookswitch being closed, while placing the key in its third position connects the telephone set with the second line while leaving the rst line free.

4. In combination, a rst and a second common-battery telephone line, stations common to both lines each including a common-battery subscriber telephone set having a hookswitch for closing and opening the common-battery talking path therethrough, each station further including a switching key for its telephone set having a first and a second position corresponding to said lines respectively, contact means in each said key for connecting its telephone set to the line corresponding to either position in which the key is placed, a relay connected in circuit with the second line and operable thereover subject to any key being in second position and to the hookswitch of the subset with which such key is associated being closed, said relay including contact means closed with the operation thereof, the key at each station having other contact means closed dependent on the key being in second position, and a holding bridge for the rst line including the said contact means of the relay in series with the other contact means of any of said keys, said contact inea-ns for any said key being arranged to connect the associated telephone set to the second line and to close its said other contact means before disconnecting the set from the rst line incidental to moving the key from its first position to its second, whereby 10 said rst line may be bridged continuously to hold a call thereon when the key at any of said stations is moved from its iirst to its second position, in which the talking path of the subset at such station is closed across said second line.

5. In a combination according to claim 4, a further relay connected in circuit With the irst line and operable subject to the rst line being bridged, and busy indication means for the rst line loperable responsive to operation of said further relay.

WILBUR G. STOREY.

References Cited in the le 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,733,311) Saunders et al Dec. 2, 1930 2,069,038 Labaugh Jan. 26, 1937 2,341,027 Edwards Feb. 8, 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Automatic Electric Co. Catalog #4037, page 3; March 15, 1933. 

